Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hi Ranee, and Ranee’s followers! Thanks for
inviting me to guest blog about my FREE MEN and DREAMERS books.

I’m from Maryland, but about 14 years ago, I
fell in lovewith historic
Williamsburg. There is a sacred spirit there, one felt also in other places
that welcomed the great patriots—Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison,
Franklin, Key, and others—cities like Philadelphia, Washington, and Georgetown;
and places like Fort McHenry, Hampton, Craney Island, Fort Monroe, and dozens
more.

I believe it’s because God’s hand was over
the events that happened in these places, moving people where they needed to be
in order to accomplish His purposes for this land.

The past eight years of my research and
writing have focused on an incredibly fascinating, and rather forgotten,
generation of Americans. Most of us know a bit about the Revolution, and we
have some basic understanding of the issues that drove us into the Civil War,
but far fewer know anything concrete about the War of 1812, and yet historians will
tell you that it was this period and these events that finally forged us into
The United States of America.

The idea for a historic novel began back in
1998 after my first visit to Williamsburg, but I set it aside and moved on to
another project. After 9/11, my heart, like most Americans', turned more
tenderly to America and her history. By 2004 I submitted the first draft.

The original manuscript was set in the late
1840’s, but after much soul searching, many hours buried in American history,
and a small mention in Lucy Mack Smith’s “Biography of Joseph Smith,” I knew I
needed to back the books up a generation.

It was Lucy’s reference to her brother
Stephen Mack’s service during the War of 1812 that was the deal-breaker. I had
never before made the connection between the Smiths and the War of 1812, but
there it was! Joseph Smith grew up during that war. He and his generation were
affected and shaped by the critical historic events of the tragic burning of
Washington, the critical Battle of Baltimore, Key’s rallying of a broken nation
with his writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The generation that would take on Britain’s
war machine in the War of 1812 was already unique in that they were the
children of the Founding Fathers’ generation. They were the heirs of the great
patriots’ vision, those charged to build a nation founded on the lofty
principles of liberty and freedom, and now they would experience the great
religious reformation and the Restoration led by Joseph Smith.

After eight years of research and rewrites,
it is this generation’s story that I tell in my FREE MEN and DREAMERS books
where we wind six fictional families—three American, two British, one
slave—through carefully researched American history to illustrate the courage,
sacrifice, and vision of this extraordinary group.

Here’s the promo copy for this series:

The Founding Fathers' vision of "One
Nation Under God" was not left to chance.

But what if yours was the generation tasked
with forging that nation?

And forced to defend her once again. .

Just
before the heavens were about to open. . .

And a new dispensation was
about to begin?

These were the challenges facing
a choice generation.

They were. . . FREE MEN & DREAMERS

There are five books in the series: DARK SKY AT DAWN, (2007); and TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING, (2008) were
each finalists in the 2008 USA Best Books Competition; DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, (2009); OH,
SAY CAN YOU SEE? (2010) was a Whitney Award finalist; IN GOD IS OUR TRUST, (2011) is currently a nominee for a Whitney
Award..

Preview chapters from each book are available
on my website at http://www.laurielclewis.com/books.htm, but I’d like to share an excerpt from my recently released
volume 5, IN GOD IS OUR TRUST. Our
protagonist in the series is Jed Pearson, a moral but logical man who has
aligned his course upon the strength and stability of government. But new,
illogical, religious concepts threaten his tidy world, and despite his efforts
to dismiss them, he cannot, setting the stage for a spiritual awakening that
will test his faith in both God and the Constitution.

From chapter 29:

The
Pearsons arrived in Washington City in July, well before Jed

was
scheduled to be seated in the Senate, but not too early to receive

his
first assignment from his friend, Senator Timothy Shepard, who

had
been asked to assist Washington’s Mayor Weightman’s Jubilee

of
Independence Committee, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the

signing
of the Declaration of Independence. Timothy quickly secured

Jed’s
help.

“First
things first,” Timothy began. “Congress commissioned four

paintings
by John Trumball which will be hung in the Rotunda for the

celebration.
The capstone of the celebration is his grand mural titled

The Declaration of Independence,
depicting the five writers of the

declaration
presenting the draft to their colleagues. Here’s a sketch.”

Jed
studied the five images in the center of the sketch. The first

three
were easily recognizable—Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John

Adams
of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania—but

the
last two required greater thought. “I’m embarrassed to say I can’t

remember
these two members of the drafting committee, nor some

of
the other signers.”

“Roger
Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert Livingston of New

York,
but I can’t name some of the signers anymore. I wonder if

future
generations will learn their names and know the risk they

took
when they mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their

sacred
honor.”

Jed
grew wistful at the thought. “So few of them are yet alive.”

“Charles
Carroll is well, but Presidents Jefferson and Adams are

in
failing health.”

“It’s
remarkable to consider what that generation achieved in

fifty
years, and yet the cost has been high. Two hundred and fifty

years
ago the Indians roamed free in virgin forests and welcomed the

settlers.
Now we are at war with them in many corners.”

“We
fear them and they don’t trust us, often with good cause,”

Timothy
said.

“If
only we could share the land and live in peace, but we each

have
very different visions for America. It’s rumored Andrew Jackson

will
relocate the Indians west if elected president. As much as I love

what
we’re building here, I can’t feel good about that.”

“It
was a primitive new world when the first settlers arrived, as

if
God hid it in His hand for millennia for a special purpose. I think

His
hand has ever been and still is over this land.”

“And
what do you think His purpose is? Even the Founders

couldn’t
agree on religion.”

“They
differed on the details, but they all believed in Christ.

Religion
was and is still evolving here since the break with Europe.

Perhaps
they purposely kept the language vague in order to

accommodate
what might yet be.”

“Like
a visit from God?”

Timothy
scowled at Jed. “What?”

Flushing
red, Jed wished he could retract the comment. “Don’t

mind
me.”

“No,
tell me. Who claims to have been visited by God?”

“A
young man named Joseph Smith. Hannah is quite taken with

him.”

“But
you doubt him?”

Jed
leaned back slightly. “Do you believe God would condescend

to
come to earth and visit a young man today in response to a

prayer?”

Timothy
pondered the question a moment. Jed watched his face

soften
as he thought. “I don’t know, but if God wanted to do such

a
thing, I think this is where He would choose to do it. Religion

needs
freedom to flourish, Jed, and I believe God helped us establish

and
preserve ours. Now He’s blessed us with a decade of relative

prosperity
and peace. If He wanted to open the heavens and speak, I

think
He would do it here, and this might be the time.”

*
* *

Once again, thank you for sharing this post
with your readers, Ranee! They can reach me at lclewis2007@gmail.com.

1 comment:

Thanks for inviting me to hijack your post today, Ranee! Very kind of you. I so appreciate the opportunity to reach your readers and discuss Free Men and Dreamers. I've had a true American history adventure while conducting the research for the books, and it's a true pleasure to share these neglected pages of America's past with new audiences. I'd love to answer any questions they might have at lclewis2007@gmail.com. Thanks again for the post!Laurie

About Me!

I've been writing since I was old enough to grasp a crayon--my grandma even has an early copy of a "book" I made her. I have a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wyoming and will (hopefully) soon be starting a graduate program in English. When I'm not breaking up impromptu UFC fights in the living room or losing miserably to my boys at Uno, I'm ... well, writing or editing, of course! I'm married to my best friend, and we have three rambunctious but simply amazing little boys.

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Love, Jane!

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